Ex-PE teacher, 90, becomes oldest man EVER to complete U.S. triathlon

At the age of 90, most people would be content with a gentle stroll to the shops.

But not former PE teacher Charlie Futrell, who has became the oldest man in America ever to complete a triathlon.

He finished the gruelling 440-yard swim, ten-mile bike ride and three-mile run in two hours, 18 minutes and 38 seconds at a race in Florida over the weekend.

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Incredible achievement: Charles Futrell, 90, crosses the finish line at the Clermont triathlon on Saturday

Mr Futrell, who counts a young Sylvester Stallone among his former pupils, only became an athlete when he retired from teaching in the 1970s.

Last month he became the oldest American man ever to complete a duathlon, and he trumped that in the on Saturday, when he broke the record for the oldest man to complete a triathlon sanctioned by the official U.S. group.

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Mr Futrell, whose wife, Peggy, passed away two years ago, told the Daily Commercial: 'I've dedicated much of my life to fitness and here I am. I'm a pretty
happy person, I stay active in church and a lot of people tell me I'm a
good example.

Record: Charles Futrell, shown here on the cycling leg, is the oldest man in America to complete a triathlon

'I work out every other day and on the days
in between, I swim or bike.'

It's the latest in a long line of
record-breaking achievements for Mr Futrell, who was born in Tucsaloosa,
Alabama, in 1920, and turns 91 in August.

Mr Futrell, who is unofficially
ranked the world's number one older triathlete, told the East
Carolinian: 'I'm the most unusual man in the world, I've been told.

'What I'm doing, no other man at my age is doing. I stand alone.'

Then and now: Charlie Futrell pictured as a young man when he played baseball for East Carolina Teaching College between 1938 and 1941, left, and taking part in the triathlon on Saturday at the age of 90, right

After
a career coaching baseball and football and teaching politics and
physical education, he started running in earnest during the 1980s.

Former pupil: Mr Futrell taught Rocky star Sylvester Stallone when he was in eighth grade

Since then he has completed more than 400 road races and 114 triathlons, and holds two world records and five national records.

In 1992, at the age of 72, he entered his first Ironman competition in Hawaii.

The arduous event consists of a 2.4 mile
swim in the open ocean, followed by a 112 mile bike race across lava
fields, and finally a marathon - all in less than 17 hours.

He came first in his age category for the U.S. and third in the world, and went on to compete in three more before 1997.

Fred Sommer, owner of Sommer Sports,
which organised the event on Saturday, told the Daily Commercial: 'We've
had several participants over the years in their 80s but to have
someone that's 90-years-old still competing in duathlons and triathlons
is an inspiration to not only people his own age, but to everyone.'

He added: 'Sometimes people get intimidated because they think they are too old, or
not in the best shape to participate, but by seeing Futrell, maybe
they'll think, "Hey, If a 90-year old man can do it, I can too".'

Mr Futrell certainly has no plans to
give up running just yet. He told the East Carolinian: 'Maybe when I'm
100 years old I'll be able to do a 10k road race and a triathlon.'